Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-07
w1NDHAM COUNTY VETERANS

rails and BrattlebOro early i'm the afternoon
brought veterans and other invited guests
To the number Of three or four hundred
while many came by teams from the West
river valley and other parts Of the county.
as well as from the nearby portion of New
Hampshire. The invited guests present al
SO included Gov Ormsbec and Lieut.. Gov
ruler whose presence added much to the
interest of the occasion.
On arrival of the Brattleboro delegation
which numbered about POO. including
Post Sedgwick No. g. G. A. r., John S.
Tyler Camp, S. of ", the Woman's Relief
Corps, the First Regiment band, and a
number of other invited guests-the wish
tors were escorted from the depot to the
village by w II. Greenwood post of Put
ney, under whose auspices the reunion was
held.
After short rest a line of march was
formed under the marshalship of of NJ w.
Whitman, assisted by William Robinson,
II. e. Wheat and f. II. Cobb, in the follow
ing ORDER
Chief Marshal and Aides
First Regiment Band
W. II. Greenwood Post, q. A. r. Of Putney
Gov. Orusbep and staff.
Sedgwick Post q. A. r, Of Brattleboro.
john ). Tyler Camp =. of V, Of Brattlcboro
Birchard Post, q. A. r., Of Townshend.
SaNtuns River Band.
+. II, Stoughtun Post, g. \. r., vt Bellows Falls.
Besides these organizations, present as
such, there were delegations from the
Grand Army posts ut Londonderry, Jamai-
ca, Wilmington, Chester. Springfield, and
other places in this state, and also from
Kcene, Alstead aud IIinsdaein New Hamp-
shire as well rs many old soldiers not
members Of the Grand Army Many of
these fell into line with the organizations
present while, of course, there were many
others whose disabilities would not permit
them to join in the march The veterans
present numbered from 3bn to 400, while
the crowd en- Attendance, including the 9th
or invited guests aud the citizens Of Put
ney AMI adjacent town, who came To- enjoy
the occasion, brought the total attendance
up to 1900 or 1000 Probably the number
OF old soldiers present from other towns
would have been much larger had not the
weather been unprumiSiug in the early
part of the day
The procession, rs it marched through
the principal streets Of the village to the
enliveuiug music of the bands, was greet
ed from every huI,e with waving banners
or other patriotic euhlems, reminding the
old veterans of the days OF n quarter of Il
century ago when Johnnie came march
ing home fresh from his triumphs. In
many cases the decorations of houses or
windows were quite elaborate and tasteful
and called forth hearty responsive cheer.
from the boys that wore the blue
After the termination Of the march-whict
though not severe, served well as remind
er of other days IA dress parade was hello
on the village green with Major q. II
RAn.l t.1, fI1,, 1
ernor and Lieutenant Governor witnessed
the parade and at its close the formSZ ad
dressed few remarks to the ulcersS
After the parade was dismissed, as wei
as in the earlier part of the day, and be
tween the exercises, veterans were 10 be
seen hunting up their old associates OF
standing in groups, shaking hands ant
talking over the old times. The members
Of Co. f, Fourth Vermont. got together an,
formed "A company reunion society, will
Col. Hooker president and H. +. Taylo
secretary, and voted to meet with the coun
ty society next year, the secretary to mott
all old members of the fact whose wherea
bouts could he learned.
About } o'clock the assembled guests wer
called upon To fall in for ratiuns, and tn
order was obeyed with will Two larg
mess tents belongil TO Fuller Battery, an,
| kindly loaned for the occasion, had beel
spread upon the lawn near the band stand
beneath which tables had been placed
seats provided and plates laid for 400 per
sons. These were speedily occupied an'
the onslaught began But hearts that ha'
never quailed before the enemy here foun,
their most vigorous assaults of little effect
the gaps being speedily filled by au arm
of walters Of both sexes, whose stocl
of munitions was apparently exhaust
| less Twice were reserve forces order
ed to the front and twice was the con
tlict renewed, but still the beans, bread
doughnuts, coffee, etc. held out, and tn
attacking party at length retired, cor
WINGED that the commissary department q
Putney was prepared to stand siege
At $3.50 o'clock the First Regiment ban
called the company to reassemble beneat
and around the tents-which, with tn
sides raised, were formed into one larg
canopy where all could see and hear-an
the evenings exercises began with Col. 4
| b Franklin Of Newfane, president of tn
society, in the chair After a few words ,
welcome from the president, Commando
Scott Of the Townshend post arose and il
| vited the society to meet with them neN
year, which invitation was accepted. III
society then proceeded to the election ,
officers for the ensuing year. Col. Franz
lin was nominated for reelection as pres
dent, and though disinclined to accept tn
Office for a third term, at length did so, an
the ui her officers were all thercupon reclec
ed, namely &. w. Hooker, vice president
W. II. Miles Of Tuwnshend, w. w. PierC
of Londonderry, Geo X Russell of BE
lows Falls, G. NJ. Russell Of Wilmingto
L L. l.tl.,r, -
committee
Col. Franklin then announced the IS
date and digniiied" Col &. w. Hooker
toastmaster of the evening and amid Il
brilliant glow of magnesium lights outsi,
the tent occurred the intellectual fireworl
within, intermingled with music, both v
cal and instrumental.
Col. Hooker, in taking the chair, e,
pressed his own appreciation, and that {
his fellow guests. of the handsome mann,
in which the people of Putney, soldiers al
citizens alike, had welcomed and treat,
their visitors on the present occasion.
was a new proof, he said, of the worth
the promise made ut the outset of the WI
by the people Of Vermont that their Sc
diers should not he forgotten.
Col. Hooker first called for some mus
from the Saxtons River band, and they r
sponded with a patriotic medley, aft
which Gov. Ormsbee was introduced as Il
first speaker The Governor in his r
marks alluded TO the recent increase of i
terest in soldiers gatherings, manifesto
not only in Vermont but throughout d
country. The experiences of our soldie
during the trying period of 1861 80, de
mite repetition, still form the most interes
ING themes of song and story. Though
appeared on this occasion rs the chief e
ecutive of the state, he preferred to me
the veterans of Windhnm county as a fl
low soldier. The story of the devote
and LOYALTY Of our union soldiers during Il
great civil war he thought was best SUI
med up in the words addressed to them
one of our honored senators But for y,
and your associates in lS6l-'61, there won
have been no United States of America
The Governor closed with some pertine
remarks to the Sons of Veterans chargil
them to ever keep alive the memory al
thp shirt of their fathers, whose patric
ism and bravery had secured to them
country free in decd as well as IN name.
Marching through Georgia was TIN
sung by IA quartet composed OF MessI
Willis and Frcleigh of Brattleboro, Whe
l of Putney aud GnrhHm of Westminster
Lieut.. Gov. Fuller was next hlIIouuce
A fter making little sally at Col. Hooke
Mr. Fuller alluded 10 the recent rap
growth of the Grand Army and the cry
1 alarm which had been raised in consequence
But those who have raised the alarm,
5 snid. were the same people who opposed t
t Grand Army mon during the war. I
speaker regretted the position which Pre-
dent Cleveland had taken regarding pc
sions, and believed that the time wou
5 soon come when all veteran soldiers nee
ing relief would have it granted TO the
He believed that veterans reunions Ii
the present were profitable and closed
! wishing the old soldiers present many ha
Ply years to come. nd,
r was the next speaker introduced and
5 devoted his line Of remarks to brief I
p view of the principles involved in a
$ Questions settled by the war which cOu